The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-03-17
THE EASTER OFFERINGS.
Kitty Grey to Her Father and Vice
Versa.

Versa.
Kitty Grey's face, usually so merry,
looked so sober and perplexed one
Thursday afternoon that Edith Halstead
reused herself from the fascinating
mysteries of Kensington embroidery to
ascertain the cause.
What is the matter with you to-day,
Katharine Grey? I verify believe that
you have not smiled once since you
came over here. Have you tor your
new dress climbing fencesP That is
the most probable calamity of which I
can think at the present moment"
Kitty smiled family as she shook her
curly head. my dress is all right,
thank you, my dear; your insinuation
is absurd. 1 have not climbed a fence
for six weeks. 1t is exceedingly for
tunate that it is not torn, for 1 should
probably be obliged to wear it, even
II it were. New dresses are rather I'M
common at house."
There was a little accent of bitter
ness and rebellion in Kittie's voice as
she utter the last words, which Edith
was quick to note.
..You want something that you can't
have; isn't that the troublep" she ques-
toned shrewdly; '.Tm astonished, Kit
tie, you are usually so delightfully."-
philosophical with regard to such mat
ters. Tell me all about it, my DEAR"
she concluded coaxingly, casting aside
her beloved Kensington, that she might
give her undoubted attention to the re-
cital of Kittie's woes. She looked SO
sympathetic that Kittie yielded at once.
Eyes" she acknowledged, 81 want
some money; I want it ba !ly and there
is not the faintest possibility of my be-
ing able to get it. Someway, I can't
manage to feel at all philosophical over
this matter. 1t is horribly inconven-
lent to be respectfully poor; you should
be profoundly thankful that you don't
know from personal experience just
how inconvenient it is. Sometimes
think I would rather be a street Arab
aud beg from house to house, than be
obliged to economic and plan so con-
tinually in order to make a respectable
appearance There would be an actual
excitement in being extremely poor
and not knowing what one would have
to eat for the next meal, or whether
he would have any thing at ALL" Two
tears glistened in Kittie's large bright
eyes, a sight so unusual that Edith
looked at her with something of dis.
may. Why should Kittie, usually SO
supremacy Indifferent to trifles like
worn-out gloves, soiled ribbons. dilapi.
dated shoes and old-fashioned dresses,
suddenly become so dissatisfied with
her CHEEKY little homer For K tiles
home was CHEEKY and pleas
ant, despite the fact that the
little town was so outrageously healthy
that DR.. Grey's income was barely
sufficient to meet the necessary ex
pcnses, leaving no margin at all fol
luxuries. DR.. Grey was genial and
pleasant, his wife was invariably Sc
rem and even-tempercd, the four boys
were generous and affectionate, even il
somewhat mischievous and tantalizing.
Kittie, herself, was ordinarily as brigh,
and contented q lassie as could bt
found any place. What could be the
trouble to-day? 81 must find out all
about it." was Edith's unspoker
Thought Seating herself on the arm
of Kittie's chair, she imperilously or
dcrcd the confession to proceed. "Yo,
always make me your confidant event
ually, you know, Katharine, so it viii
save trouble if you will unburden YOU
mind at once, and tell me why yol
have become SO dreadfully mercenary
Procecd!"
Kittie laughed. 1t was so absurd tx
see Edith, who seldom ventured t.
contradict or oppose her in the least
put on a semblance of stern authority
my dear child, do you see this?'
she asked, drawing forth from he
pocket a portmonnaie, whose externa
appearance, at least, did not indicat,
that it sccreted much wealth. '.Nov
listen,' she continued, opening it an,
pouring its contents into her lap
.'ren, fifteen, twenty-five, twenty
seven thirty, t~hirty-fve, ~thirty-six
thirty-scven, and this nickel with
hole punched through it, which no on,
but blind old Mr.. Sykes would take {
can't imagine where I got it); that il
the sum total of my wealth, Edith, and
oh! / TO want ten dollars so much!"
"Why?' because fathers birthda,
comcstwo weeks from Easter Sunday
you know, and I want to give him a com
plctc set of Sh~akcspeare's works. TIL
only copy hat we have is one tina
used to be grandfather's; the print
SO terribly fine that father can't read
ct all, and besides, Fred spilled bot
tie of mncilage over it about six week
ago, and the pages are glued togethe
now. it is remarkable, but tha
wrctchcd mucilage utterly refused t
stick to anything else; that is a strikin
example of the total %depravity {
inanimate things. There is a beaut
ful set of the Handy Volume editio
in Mr.. Brereton's window, and til
price is only $40. 1t might as we
be q hundred dollars, however, for a
the good it is likely to do me-" an
K;ttic ended with a di~sconsolate sigl
Edith looked sober. 1t was so strane
not to he able to give just what on
wished to give to a friend. She r
membered hat on her fathers la
birthday she had given him an illu
trated book of foreign travels. whic
had cost twice as much rs would I'll
coveted set of Shakespeare. Even the
~teifstellar bill was lying in her poke
book. which she would willingly ha,
giysn 10 her Pennies friend, had Kilt
been less proud and independent. !
1t was. she dared not offer her ar
money. and sat for some minutes
silent pcrplexity. twining Kittie's cur
around her finger. aud OCCASIONAL
giving them a gentle little pull.
.Dcarn. it is too bad" she said
last, with such heartfelt sympathy